Oldmac,
I had a lumatek 600 as well as a 1000 watter. To me the 1000 watter was alot more graceful to a lamp versus the 600. I was buying hortilux,too! Replacing every 3 months, cause I was vegging with them as well. Hps lamps should be used for flowering taking into consideration use is at a minimum so it cost you more.. Then I went to the phantom 1000 and it seems to burn lamps to their hilt, making them last longer,too. The lumatek 600 would no way compare to a 600 watt 220 volt phantom ballast. I've had several ballasts of all types and wattage. These would be what I would invest my money into.Lumatek 1000 and the phantom 1000 dimmable. Which comes in handy when there is a heat issue,huh?

Lots of people are starting to put away the magnetics and go digital.